Ryan Connolly is back for his fifth season as the head coach of the North Andover High boys lacrosse team.

Last season, the Scarlet Knights reached the Division 1 North quarterfinals before falling to Reading, 12-3. With that defeat, the Knights ended the 2016 season at 12-8.

Four seniors from that team graduated, but Connolly welcomed back 14 veterans when the 2017 preseason opened on March 20.

"We did things a little different this year in the preseason," said Connolly, speaking of the weather not cooperating. "Instead of playing a lot of scrimmages, we focused more on ourselves. We were able to get our field plowed, so we got some good time outside."

The two captains for the 2017 season are seniors Steve Canale and Sam Caron. Canale, a midfielder, was a Merrimack Valley Conference All-Star last year. Caron will play both midfielder and attacker.

North Andover had only one scrimmage against New Hampshire power Pinkerton Academy.

The season got off to a good start on April 11 as they belted visiting Tewksbury, 16-2, in a game they led, 12-1, at halftime.

"We don’t like to run up the score," said Connolly. "So we were able to put some of our younger players in."

Zack Keating led the offense with five goals, while Canale and Casey Hughes each scored three goals. Hughes ended the day with five points as he added two assists. Keegan Hughes led the team in assists with three.

Josh Palatine made four saves in net in the first half while Ethan Ford turned back two Redmen shots in the second half.

With the realignment in the MVC, the Knights are now in the MVC Small division.

"Our division is tough, with Billerica and Chelmsford," said Connolly.

Next Tuesday, the Knights will face Concord-Carlisle at Winchester High in the first game of the Coaches Cup Tournament at 4 p.m. They will then either play Hingham or Andover at home next Thursday in the second game of the tournament (time to be announced).